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1500 questions
19
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11 answers
Garments that unintentionally require tzitzit
Have you ever encountered in the wild (i.e. owned, considered purchasing in a store, seen worn by an observant Jewish man) a garment that requires tzitzit but that was not made for them (i.e. not a tallit gadol or tallit katan)?
If you've seen such…
Isaac Moses
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4 answers
Was Moshe deceiving Pharoh, or was the original "Exodus" from Egypt meant to be temporary?
Inspired/based on this question, I was surprised to see that the following hasn't yet been asked here:
Moshe is told by God (Shemos 3:18) to request of Pharoh that the Jews leave for three days, and then return to Egypt. This request is then…
הנער הזה
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19
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2 answers
Apologetics for marriage at 3 years old
Are there contemporary apologetics for the Mishnah (Niddah 44b) that a girl of the age of 3 can be married by sexual relations? (It seems difficult to accept that such a thing is even allowed in principle, even if not in practice.)
Curiouser
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19
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4 answers
What halachic issues are involved in turning off a mobile phone while praying the quiet Amidah?
A person realises during his quiet Amidah, that he has not turned off his mobile phone.
He is worried lest it ring while he is praying.
On the other hand, turning it off will interfere with his prayers.
What should he do?
Avrohom Yitzchok
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19
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4 answers
Is it permissible to use an escalator on Shabbos?
Escalators: Are they allowed to be used on Shabbos or not?
(and the reasons behind it)
yydl
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19
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6 answers
Is it considered stealing to look at mi.yodeya while at work?
More generally, doing personal things like phone calls, emails, etc. while on company time. How far does the "everybody does it" rationale go? I believe there is some category in halakha that accounts for reasonable assumptions.
Jeremy
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19
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3 answers
Why does almost every pasuk in Megillat Ruth start with a vav?
Every single pasuk except 8 in megillat Ruth starts with the letter vav. Is there any reason for this or is it just a quirk of how it was written? If there is a reason, what about the 8 pesukim which do not start with a vav?
not-allowed to change my name
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19
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2 answers
Did Adam and Eve have bellybuttons, fingerprints or ridge over lip?
Since they were created by God and did not form in a womb and had no umbilical chord did they have bellybuttons or fingerprints (that are formed by womb pressure) or upper lip ridge which the malach hits the child after birth to forget the torah…
Yoni
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2 answers
Laws of yichud in the Soviet Union
In Soviet Union, is there heter for man and woman to seclude in same room if there is chazaka that KGB is watching?
This question is Purim Torah and is not intended to be taken completely seriously. See the Purim Torah policy.
Clint Eastwood
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19
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1 answer
Why was the side door to the hechal unlocked so oddly?
The hechal (central room) of the bes hamikdash had its main entrance on its eastern end. To either side of that entrance were cubicles, and the main-floor cubicles on each side had a door to the east also. Thus, the eastern exterior wall of the…
msh210
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19
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3 answers
Is it permitted for a male to shave his pubic hair nowadays?
Is it permitted for a male nowadays to shave his pubic hair for non-medical reasons? Perhaps this question could be phrased a different way: Assuming that the market for male-specific shaving products that are designed for body hair is an indication…
John
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19
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Killing somebody with the keys to the synagogue
In Yoreh Deah 339:1, the mechaber brings a variety of things that one is not permitted to do to a goses (a person on the brink of death), since each of these things causes the goses to die sooner. Since a goses is considered a living person in every…
Shimon bM
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19
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9 answers
Why is there no description of Olam Haba in the Torah?
According to the beginning of the Mesilas Yesharim, the entire purpose of creation is for man to merit Olam Haba (the bliss of the next world).
If so, why is there no mention nor description of Olam Haba in the Torah, except in vague shrouded…
ray
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19
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2 answers
Kissing and Hugging one's wife
What does it say about chibuk and nishuk (kissing and hugging) shelo b'shas tashmish (not during relations) with one's wife in Sifrei Halacha or Hashkafa?
Among madrichei chassanim (those that teach someone about getting married) there are…
Yehoshua
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19
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12 answers
What are the oldest Jewish songs (tune plus words) that are still popular today?
When I say "song", I mean the combination of tune and words; and yes I'm probably thinking Ashkenazically here. It seems like any European old-timer I've met knows the "good old fashioned" tune for Psalm 23 (Mizmor L'Dovid, Hashem ro'i lo echsar). …
Shalom
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